Major firm's top man steps down

The head of a top tier firm is set to step down after 31 years in the role.

THE head of Eversheds' Nottingham office in the UK will step down after 31 years in the role.

David Wild, a specialist in corporate finance and management buy-outs, will retire at the end of the financial year and has taken the decision to leave the law entirely, the told The Lawyer, a UK publication.

“When you retire, you’re either cutting edge or you’re not,” he said.

He will be replaced by office location head for company and commercial James Fry, who will take over as senior office partner on in the first week of 2010.

According to reports, a former colleague of Fry said he thought Eversheds’ decision to promote a non-contentious IP and healthcare partner to the office’s most senior role could mark a change in strategy.

The firm's incoming top man, however, denies these claims, and said it would be business as usual for the firm.

The news comes in the wake of news that the firm launched a fourth round of job cuts, and that 22 real estate lawyers' jobs were at risk.

According to some reports on 10 September this year, 95 secretaries are facing redundancies as the firm considers outsourcing documentation work.

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